Motor-cycle.



INVENTOR. WINFIELD 5 HA/morv Patented Dec. 11,1917.

MOTOR CYCLE.

W. S. HARMON.

W. S. HARMON.

MOTOR CYCLE. APPLICATION FILED MAR-4.1916- Patented Dec. 11; 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

my 2 mm IN V EN TOR. W/lVF/EL 0 5. H4 emu M A TTORNE YS.

w. s. HARMON.

MOTOR CYCLE.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 4. me.

\ Patented Dec. 11,1917.

INVENTOR. M/INF/ELD 5 HARMON 1 aM ATTORNEYS.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

all

'nk mm a: Ii II I H UNITED STATES wrgmwrmp s. murmur, 0E Dmworr, memmim Mamba-01mm mu whom mas/wwiem 'di i n f e T11 1 b en fl iirii S 13119- F fth, i pro de mot 1 3 1 11? 2134 3 improved spring or :sh'ock gfb'sgrb gng means wh ar Wholly nflqsed in T s ita ta i g, r y m king ams du 3151 di t robf and which insures an Easy 'ridmg "veicle, Sixth, 1:0 provide a mdtor cyi'c le having an mp wd r m h lm ni g a d ont' sj in hich p rmlti @1 3 s m in h smfiil a d qnisldy dj sts d, ra q ed or IE- pi fi- V g Furth bisi ts, an objects reiqtm -"to details and economies of constructmjn and operationvwill defin t appw irm fl de i e e nirat n t .f llbwa pmpf h 9b" pts of n n s'm by dw e d 'm an d ib d n H *fbllowiivg s ecificat ion. The invsnti qn lvl n i d ed a d b int fbu f 'th i ms- "Structures cpnspi'tuting a preferred equbpdiment f my ixjventidn are illustrated m thencgompginyi'z g drawing forming a part of thisfspeficgtion, i'n'wliichz Fig. 11 is a partial detail 'sidg elevation 'of ix mqtor cycle embeglyipg thg "features of my 161 ghau'ged to if geliverygar. Fig} IH i3 an enlarged detail plan- View mmm m invention" having thejs'anie burly gdgpted gmum l gamec. 11-919mm K411115305 .t ,;1' pr ga, min with Wheels la filt, 1150' section through the from: 331 "slwwih ihg "construction, mouflti'fig nd arrangement 552E the Tront.whe '1 on the s-amiwlt-eu 0,121 line 'qm lie'spond ihg t o lines-8 of Fig. and VII. l Fi IX is an enlarged partial. letail won't-f1 sedtio'h Showing the -.com1ecfi-bn oi the front Wh'eel ste'efing arm A 6 we frfibnt Fig". XII is J n, Emma-mm vefliaal frame for the same, to be hereinafter described, on which is mounted the body 1, which in Fig. I is preferably two seated, having the top 2, the wind siield 3, front lamp 4 and steering wheel 5, in the usual form except the seats areonly wide enough for one person. The front and rear wheels 6 and 7 are mounted on the front and rear orks 8 d resPec Y .y -an e th usual front and rear mud guards 10 and 11, respectively, suitably secured to the said forks. The front and rear fork construction will be hereinafter described in detail. In Fig. II, I showa modification of the body l with the rear seat or tonneau removed and. a box-like structure 12 substituted, which enables the motor cycle to be used in delivery service and for use of a single passenger.

The frame of my machine consists of the symmetrical right and left side bars 13 and 14, respectively, see Fig. III. These side bars may be of channel iron, which is preferred for some kinds of service, the two halves of which are bent toward each other thusforming a forked or U-shaped structure" as shown, and have their front and rear ends curved upwardly as shown in Fig. IV to accommodate the design. These parts are rigidly connected .by suitable front and fear bars 15 and 16, respectively. In the front of the frame is secured the front fork rod 17 by the nuts 18, on which pivots front fork, 8. Thimbles 19 on the said rod 17 serve to suitably separate the ends of the frame side bars, as shown in Fig. III. In the rear of .the frame is secured the rear .lfork rod-20 by the nuts 21 and pivotally mounted thereon is the rear fork 9. The front fork 8 has a rearwardly and downwardly depending pair. of arms 22, and rod 17 preferably passes through the top of the said arms, as shown in Figs. III and IV. The

rearforkfi also has aflpiir. ofsirnilarly'disposed depending ar1ns23, which are pivoted onrod2Q in amanner corresponding to that ofthe front fork.

I spring .tubeor. cylinder 24 is disposed between side;bars '13 'and;14, and is secured tothe crossibars 1 5 and 16. and an intermediate cross bar 25,-; (Eig..XII) :by the straps 26 ,suita'bly I bolted' to the said. cross bars.

- .W thin the said tube I have disposed my spring inetins which serves to absorb the garious; shocks ivento a machine of this typel Within t e springtube; and secured wall thereof is the. centrally disposed stop 21 secured to thesaid tube by the screw studs; 28., In the front half ,of the said tubeds plunger 29, and inzthe rear is plunger The saidfiplungers :29 and 30 are sera e to the frqntand ii p unger rodsfi l-.323; re psteely Th q p t? the i stre eyl nsie sip L' di; ;}t'l 3 an 34, respective which screw into the lower ends of arms 23 of the rear fork.

Between the plunger 29 and cap 33 is disposed the coiled'spring 37, said spring being loosely incased by the c linder 2 l. Disposed inside-of spring 312m fitting over plunger rod 31 is an auxiliary coiled spring 38, one end of which is sprung into a suitable recess in cap 33. This auxiliary spring is adapted to be brought into action when an excessive shock is given to the front wheel and is thereby transmitted by the front fork to the spring 37. For this reason the other end of spring 38 does not normally contact with the step'39 of plunger 29. It is evident, therefore, that when the front fork is lifted, or the frame depressed, the plunger rod 31 is drawn forward and the spring 37 will immediately react, but if the said spring cannot absorb all of the shock thus given, auxiliary spring 38 will. be brought into play by the stop 39 bearing against the same and thereby gives an additional means for completely absorbing the shock.

Between plunger 29 and stop 27 is located the coiled spring 10, easily sliding in the spring cylinder 24. This spring bears against suitable washers disposed on the said plunger and stop as shown. Therefore when a shock tends to'tilt the front. fork downwardly in relation to the frame, the plunger rod 31 will be pushed in and said spring 410 will serve to absorb the said shock. As such a shock of this type is rarely of a violent character, I employ only one spring to absorb the same, but am aware that an auxiliary spring might be hei'e in corporated, if necessary. However, plunger rod.31 is limitedin its rearward travel by the axially. disposed stop rod i1 secured in stop 27. r

I have thus describedmy spring means inconnection with the front fork. A simimeansis employed for the rear fork, as shown in Fig, IV, there being the coiled spring 42. and auxiliary spring 13'between plunger BOand cap ,34, which are adapted to absorb a shock which lifts the rear fork in relation tothe frame. A coiled spring.

by the stop rod 41. A varying tension may I be pnt on': thesp-rings which I here employ by means of ad-justing thefront and ..rear cylinder caps 33,.and 34, which are shown screw-threaded for-the purpose. By inelos- -ingthes aid,springs in the cylinder 2 4, the

formen a-re made absolutely d1rtand .dust

tight." The same may be very easily liibri :thiit 68"is loceted'the' tixl e hub 73. This hub is nearly circular and the top and bottom pertieiisbf the samei'are thicker andheavier than the 'co'rres ending side portions, as

" bctt'omportions of the same is athreaded perferation adapted to receive the upper and lqwer bell bearing race way halves 74 and 74f, all vof which arensimilar to each other. Through the upper and lower central portions' f axle 6 8 is the threaded hole for receiving the thimbles 75. The projectin portiohs of these fthimbles are tapered an an; adapted to receive the upperand lower inner ball race ways 76 and 76. Between the raceways 76 and 74, 765 and 74;, are located the bearing balls 77 and 77'.

It is therefore evident, with the axle mounted as Ihave hereinabove described, 20 that the axle hub 73 will be permitted to turnwith thimbles 7 5 as pivots. I Around the axle hub 73is secured the c0l1ar78, the ends of which are suitably threaded. The threadedportions of'thes'a'icl collar area'dapted to secure and engage a pair of outer ball hearing race ways or cones 79. The hub 80 of the front'wheel is constructed and adapted to form the inner ball bearing race Ways for the s time. 'l'lhe'real'fe two-setsof bearing 30 bell'sflSl; adapted and disposed between the race ways. The usual wire spokes 82 ehgztge th'e huben'd rim and are secure'das usual tc t'he' -same. The uter race ways 79 are held in' place by the wiishers 83 adapted t0 oyer'cc'llzir 78 and engage 'a recessed annular ring on said hub80. Washers 83 ere held inplace by the' rings 84 secured by the screws 85v to the axle hub 73. The arrangement of all these parts is shown in Fig; VII, and it will be evident that the froht wheel. will 'easily turn on the ball bearings" ,81 "while the said wheel maybe steered by turning on the-ball bearings 77 a'nd'77". It is thus seenthat in steering, the wheel turns within the frol it fork 8011 e if er. ticel' bearing ahdjthe bowed portions of the s'ame limit the sziid turnihgl Between hub '73'hnd axle 68 are the'felt washers 86'f0'r keeping the bearings 'dust proof.

p 5 0 Therefore toremoye the'lfront wheel, it

is onlynecess'ary to'f'unsc'rew the two thim- 75 until they meetat the center of slot f'The tapered ends of the two will be 'eompletely disengaged 'from the race ways '76 76., and thelink 69 can (then be swung outwardly on pivot 71', as indicated hythe dotted lines in'Fi'g." V, and? the wheel bewithdrawn from axle 68'. Whent'he same to bereassrnbledgthe process is reversed and lth'e tightening -up' .of the said themes-secures the, sa e to the 'mcej ways aueto' "the tapered fit sithe two. Sho'ifld it be desired td remove the front 'wheel' q it is dnly neces'sfiry t'c'i'emove one oftherings' 84, as washer 83 and, unscrew one of the raceways r9 fifd the so ean then he gases, fete d wnffi 'i h oun s: TIliefs teering of my'metorbydejsjcc plished the hand 's'tee'rin whel and cbluinh *5" 'suitiibly mtjunted in the" steering flwheel bracket 87 secured'to the frame'side bar 14. Onthe endof' the j'steeri'fng wheel column 5" secliredthe steering wheel err'n 88. Arm 8 8 is connected'by link 89 to alrm 90 of hell crank 91 suitably fulc'riimed' in bearings 92secured' tothe said side bar 14 Bell crank 9l1c0n'n'e'cts rod 93 to thef rbnt wheel steering arm 94. Said :rrm 94fis se c'ur'ed t0 the axle hub by' the boltsf95, es shown in Fig. 'l herefor'e, whenisteeringfwheel'h i's 'turnd, the motion of the en 'of steering arm 88 will "be to raise or lower the same. Thisfin turn,'wi11 raise or lower link 89 thereby actuating bell crank 9'1't1nd rod 93 to turn the front wheel, asde'sired. Each member of the rear fork 9 is anels to each other with the rear wheel 7 suitably disposed and joilrneled between tlie'szim 'e. My machine is here preferttblydrivenfby the belt 96, or a sprocketchtin, lllyinvention does not pe'rtaintothe power jrilgtnt, tl l ld l have not shown any. The mechin e be driven by electricity, s'tea mfer inte r' nal combustion engine. "The'applieatieh of such v power plants 1s well known 'zind needs not illustration. In F XIII is shown a mbd'ified'structure of the frame :w'herein thesi de bzirs crossbers are tubultlrlinsecti cn fsimililr to the regular bicycle "construction," frame has the usual spring cylinde While the side bars 97 zi'nd 98 ,are tubular v connected to the spring cylinder by theeross members 99, 100 and 1 01. Crossmembers '99 and,1 01 suitably"ccn,nect"'side biirs'97 and 98 by means o'f'the' hubs ce-sea 103, respectively. Where all these jbin, the same ere secured by fbrt'zing Threughf thehubs Q 102 'ehd 10311-11111 the usual retir eindfroiit ferkreds 20 and" I7. 110

' The tuhiilerstructtlre s Very nndiflt the-said downwardly projetzting mitiorij with dinfain. handmade up? of ide Hers foldedupon themselves, a horizon allv disposed reerwardly' projecting" r'ear forlt with downwardly projecting arms disp'osed shefirmed on transversehorizontal pivot btweeh' the" sides of th said frhihe,with a; riser" Wli eel carried tlie'r'ehiv, a hdrizlo'fititllj dis osed forwardly projecting frontffdrk wi hd'ownwur'clly' p'roje'ct ing arrfis,ftlie fork arms of which"are'undely separated to perni'i ttlijflswinging o f the forward Wheel on its' 'pivot steerihgdisposed and pivoted on' ZaAJ'tIMnSverse horizontal "pivot r between the si esfof' saidfra-fne towarcl"the frontfafcyf- 11' nerica1 pring casing disposed beneath/the frhin e andhelow the said fork pivots, "plunger'rods 'cpnnected'to' the lower ends of "the sii'id vdownwardl y projecting arms, 'plii'ngei's witliinthe spring *casing's connected to'said plunger rods, compression springs disposed within the said cylindrical casing and embracing the said plunger rods meeting with said plungers to hold the 'said f'orlts yield-1 ingly" in position, a hinged portion toone of said front forlra'rm's' to facilitate there moi al of'th'e wheel, anaxle with axle hub for carrying-the said wheel. v j r '2? a" motor cyclestructure, the conibi nzition with a main frame [made up of ba' folddupon themselves, of 'a horizontally" disposed rearwardly projecting" rear fdilt with downwardly projecting arm's dis posed and pivoted on a transverse tfizpn ta] pivotbetweenthesides of the said frame with a 'rear wheel carried f'th ereby, hori zoiit ally disposed forwardly proj ecting fi-oht, fork with downwardly projecting arms," the one aifris er whiten-ewidely; S par t d t9 permit the swinging of the forward wheel on its p i'vot in steering disposed pivoted on a transverse horizontal pivot between thef sid e s of sa'idfrafne toward thefro'nt, a c.' lindifi cal s ring casing dis1 )o's"ed beneath, s iib tev h s id-f li iwt plii rodseonnejctdtdthe 1'0- r was 0% TPL i iiZ e W thin. t e sta i easin v eqewf fi l' plunger rods, and compression springs disposed withi'ii' tlie said cylindrical and emlqracing the said plunge rgr co acting with *saidplungers to "hold 'thefseid forks yieldingly in position.

3. In a motor cycle strii'tnrfqthejcombination with a main frfiiiie 'nia de' up "of side ar qlded a 7. 1 themselves, 9f... e. h st ena tallj dispose" rirwtirdlj prdj ec't'ifigf'fre a'ii 1 fork With downwardly projecting arms dis posed and pivoted on a transverse horizontal pivot between the sides of the said frame with a rear wheel carried thereby, a horizontally disposed forwardly projecting front fork with downwardly projecting arms, the fork arms of which are widely separated to permit the swinging of the forward wheel on its pivot in steering disposed and pivoted fork.

' 'Gf I'n a motor cycle structure, the combination with a main frame made up of side bars folded upon themselves, of a rear fork with downwardly projecting arms disposed and pivoted on a transverse horizontal pivot between the sides of the said frame with a rear wheel carried thereby, a front fork with downwardly projecting arms disposed and pivoted onatransverse horizontal pivot between the, sidesof said.- frame toward the f'ront, a cylindrical sprin casing disposed beneath the frame and be ow the said fork pivots, plunger rods connected to the lower ends of said downwardly projecting arms plungerswithin the spring casings connecte to said plunger rods, compression springs dis osedfwithin the said cylindrical casing an embracing the said plunger rods coacting with said plungers to hold the said forks yieldinglyin position, a forward Wheel between the fork arms of the said forward fork, a pivotal support for the wheel on the axle to permit the same to be turned laterally in steering, a steering means for said wheel, and a steering column with connectionsto the front axle hub arm for guiding the same, substantially as described.

7. In a motor cycle structure, the combination with a main frame, of a rear fork with downwardly projecting arms disposed and pivoted on a transverse horizontal pivot between the sides of the said frame with a rear wheel carried thereby, a front fork with downwardly projecting arms, the fork arms of which are widely separated to permit the swinging of the forward wheel on its pivot in steering disposedand pivoted on a trans' verse horizontal pivot between the sides of said frame toward the front, a cylindrical spring, casing disposed beneath the frame and below the said fork pivots, plunger rods connected to the loWer ends of I the said downwardly projecting arms, plungers within the spring casings connected to said plungerrods, compression springs disposed within thesaid cylindrical casing and embracing the said plunger rods coacting with said plungers to hold the said forks yieldingly in'position, and a forward wheel between the fork arms of the said forward fork.

8. In a motor cycle structure, the combination with a main frame, a horizontally disposed rearwardly' projecting rear fork with d w d y p i i tin ..a n os nd. pivoted on a tra I e'rjse horizontal'pivot between the" .es of the said frame witha rear by, I erir r s deed ref-wei dly proj cti g frontfork i w "rfeieeties a m e f k s h e are widely separated to permit the usin i f rwar whel o its P v instee'ring dispose'dhnd pivoted on a trans.-

., tirimi k lP Y tbe w en t id si said frame toward the front, rods connected to the lower ends of said downwardly pmjecting arms, compression springs coactin with said rods to hold the said forks yiel ingly in position, a forward wheel between the fork arms of the said forward fork, and a steerin means for said wheel, substantially as escribed.

9. In a motor cycle structure, the combination of the frame, a horizontally disposed rear fork on a horizontal pivot on the said frame, a rear wheel carried by said fork, a horizontally disposed front fork with widely separated arms to permit the turning of the front wheel in steering, pivoted on a horizontal pivot at the front of said frame, spring connections between the said forks for maintaining them yicldingly in horizontal relation to the said frame, and a front wheel supported on a vertical pivot with means for steering the same, as specified.

10. Inainotor cycle structure, the combination of the frame, front and rear forks with lever arm connections, a spring structure disposed between the said arms com prising a spring casing, a central stop pal tition therein, plunger rods connected to the said fork arms, plungers on the said rods adapted to reciprocate and play within the spring casing, compression springs disposed within the casing and contacting with the said plunger, auxiliary compression springs of lesser length on the said plunger rods disposed to coact with the said plunger after.

the first said springs. have been compressed, compression springs between the plunger heads and the central stop to resist the counter spring action, coacting for the purpose specified.

11. Inamotor cycle structure, the combination of a drop frame, front and rear forks pivoted to the said drop frame with depending arms therefrom, spring connection be.- tween the said arms, and a body supported on the said frame one seat wide, pro ecting to embrace both the front and rear wheels,

as. specified.

my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses: I Y

M. E. TRIPP, RUTH ANDERSON.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set WINFIELD s. HARMON. ft.

ephsoiltifls'pefeiit maybe obtained for live cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner or I:

Washington, D. C," 

